ing offends them that adheres to them； and irritates them；and through by long habit we may be so accustomed to support a physical ill； as to become almost insensible to it； yet it never leaves the mind perfectly at peace。 There always remains a certain uneasiness； and discontent； an indecision； and an aversion from all serious application； which shows evidently that the mind is not at rest。
Those who from being afflicted with long and painful disease； suddenly acquire health； are best able to judge of the force of this reasoning。 It is by the delightful sensation they feel； at being relieved from pain and uneasiness； that they learn to know the full extent of their former misery； and the human heart is never so effectually softened； and so well prepared and disposed to receive virtuous impressions； as upon such occasions。
It was with a view to bring the minds of the poor and unfortunate people I had to deal with to this state； that I took so much pains to make them comfortable in their new situation。 The state in which they had been used to live was certainly most wretched and deplorable； but they had been so long accustomed to it； that they were grown insensible to their own misery。 It was therefore necessary； in order to awaken their attention； to make the contrast between their former situation； and that which was prepared for them； as striking as possible。 To this end； every thing was done that could be devised to make them REALLY COMFORTABLE。
Most of them had been used to living in the most miserable hovels； in the midst of vermin； and every kind of filthiness； or to sleep in the streets； and under the hedges； half naked； and exposed to all the inclemencies of the seasons。 A large and commodious building； fitted up in the neatest and most comfortable manner； was now provided for their reception。 In this agreeable retreat they found spacious and elegant apartments； kept with the most scrupulous neatness； well warmed in winter； well lighted； a good warm dinner every day； gratis； cooked and served up with all possible attention to order and cleanliness； materials and utensils for those who required instruction；the most generous pay； IN MONEY； for all the labour performed； and the kindest usage from every person； from the highest to the lowest； belonging to the establishment。 Here； in this asylum for the indigent and unfortunate； no ill usage； no harsh language； is permitted。 During five years that the establishment has existed； not a blow has been given to any one； not even to a child by his instructor。
As the rules and regulations for the preservation of order are few； and easy to be observed； the instances of their being transgressed are rare； and as all the labour performed； is paid for by the piece； and not by the day； and is well paid； and as those who gain the most by their work in the course of the week； receive proportional rewards on the Saturday evening； these are most effectual encouragements to industry。
But before I proceed to give an account of the internal economy of this establishment； it will be necessary to describe the building which was appropriated to this use； and the other local circumstances； necessary to be known； in order to have a clear idea of the subject。
This building； which is very extensive； is pleasantly situated in the Au； one of the suburbs of the city of Munich。 It had formerly been a manufactory； but for many years had been deserted and falling to ruins。 It was now completely repaired； and in part rebuilt。 A large kitchen； with a large eating…room adjoining it； and a commodious bake…house； were added to the buildings； and such other mechanics as were constantly wanted in the manufactory for making and repairing the machinery were established； and furnished with tools。 Large halls were fitted up for spinners of hemp；for spinners of flax；for spinners of cotton；for spinners of wool；and for spinners of worsted； and adjoining to each hall a small room was fitted up for a clerk or inspector of the hall； （spin…schreiber）。 This room； which was at the same time a store…room； and counting…house； and a large window opening into the hall； from whence the spinners were supplied with raw materials；where they delivered their yarn when spun；and from whence they received an order upon the cashier； signed by the clerk； for the amount of their labour。
Halls were likewise fitted up for weavers of woollens； for weavers of serges and shalloons；for linen weavers； for weavers of cotton goods； and for stocking weavers； cloth shearers；dryers；sadlers；wool…combers；knitters； sempstresses； etc。 Magazines were fitted up as well for finished manufactures； as for raw materials； and rooms for counting…houses； store…rooms for the kitchen and bake…house；and dwelling…rooms for the inspectors and other officers who were lodged in the house。
A very spacious hall； 110 feet long； 37 feet wide； and 22 feet high； with many windows on both sides； was fitted up as a drying…room； and in this hall tenters were placed for stretching out and drying eight pieces of cloth at once。 The hall was so contrived as to serve for the dyer and for the clothier at the same time。
A fulling…mill was established upon a stream of water which runs by one side of the court round which the building is erected； and adjoining to the fulling…mill； is the dyers…shop； and the wash…house。
This whole edifice； which is very extensive； was fitted up； as has already been observed； in the neatest manner possible。 In doing this； even the external appearance of the building was attended to。 It was handsomely painted； without； as well as within； and pains were taken to give it an air of ELEGANCE； as well as of neatness and cleanliness。 A large court in the middle of the building was levelled； and covered with gravel； and the approach to it from every side was made easy and commodious。 Over the principal door； or rather gate； which fronts the street； is an inscription； denoting the use to which the building is appropriated； and the passage leading into the court； there is written in large letters of gold upon a black ground 〃NO ALMS WILL BE RECEIVED HERE。〃
Upon coming into the court you see inscriptions over all the doors upon the ground floor； leading to the different parts of the building。 These inscriptions； which are all in letters of gold upon a black ground； denote the particular uses to which the different apartments are destined。
This building having been got ready； and a sufficient number of spinning…wheels； looms； and other utensils made use of in the most common manufactures being provided； together with a sufficient stock of raw materials； I proceeded to carry my plan into execution in the manner which will be related in the following Chapter。
CHAPTER。 IV。
An account of the taking up of the beggars at Munich。 The inhabitants are called upon for their assistance。 General subscription for the relief and support of the poor。 All other public and private collections for the poor abolished。
New…Year's…Day having； from time immemorial； been considered in Bavaria as a day peculiarly set apart for giving alms； and the beggars never failing to be all out upon that occasion； I chose that moment as being the most favourable for beginning my operations。 Early in the morning of the first of January 1790； the officers and non…commissioned officers of the three regiments of infantry in garrison； were stationed in the different streets； where they were directed to wait for further orders。
Having； in the mean time； assembled； at my lodgings； the field…officers； and all the chief magistrates of the town； I made them acquainted with my intention to proceed that very morning to the execution of a plan I had formed for taking up the beggars； and providing for the poor； and asked their immediate assistance。
To show the public that it was not my wish to carry this measure into execution by military force alone； （which might have rendered the measure odious；） but that I was disposed to show all becoming deference to the civil authority； I begged the magistrates to accompany me； and the field…officers of the garrison； in the execution of the first and most difficult part of the undertaking； that of arresting the beggars。 This they most readily consented to； and we immediately sallied out into the street； myself accompanied by the chief magistrate of the town； and each of the field…officers by an inferior magistrate。
We were hardly got into the street when we were accosted by a beggar； who asked us for alms。 I went up to him； and laying my hand gently upon his shoulder； told him； that from thenceforwards begging would not be permitted in Munich；that if he really stood in need of assistance； （which would immediately be enquired into；） the necessary assistance should certainly be given him； but that begging was forbidden； and if he was detected in it again he would be severely punished。 I then delivered him over to an orderly serjeant who was following me； with directions to conduct him to the Town…hall； and deliver him into the hands of those he should find there to receive him； and then turning to the officers and magistrates who accompanied me； I begged they would take notice； that I had myself； WITH MY OWN HANDS； arrested the first beggar we had met； and I requested them not only to follow my example themselves； by arresting all the beggars they should meet with； but that they would also endeavour to persuade others； and particularly the officers； non…commissioned officers； and soldiers of the garrison； that it was by no means derogatory to their character as soldiers； or in anywise disgraceful to them； to assist in so USEFUL and LAUDABLE an undertaking。 These gentlemen having cheerfully and unanimously promised to do their utmost to second me in this business； dispersed into the different parts of the town； and with the assistance of the military； which they found every where waiting for orders； the town was so thoroughly cleared of beggars IN LESS THAN AN HOUR； that not one was to be found in the streets。
Those who were arrested were conducted to the Town…hall； where their names were inscribed in printed lists provided for that purpose； and they were then dismissed to their own lodgings； with directions to repair